Industry players and members of the media offer up their last-minute predictions for the Running of the Roses.

Jennie Rees, The Courier-Journal

#16 Intense Holiday

#18 Candy Boy

#14 Medal Count

#5 Danza

Long shot: #19 Ride On Curlin

California Chrome is the fastest horse in the race, but I'm taking a stand against the favorite from a risk-reward standpoint, banking that his Santa Anita form doesn't translate to Churchill Downs. Intense Holiday touted us with his huge workout, and he'll benefit from all the speed, as will Candy Boy and Medal Count. Local owners and trainers could have a huge day.

Betting strategy: The Woodford Reserve Turf Classic-Derby double, keying Wise Dan to the five I mention above, plus California Chrome (because he is, after all, the fastest horse in the race).

John Asher, Churchill Downs

#16 Intense Holiday

#20 Wicked Strong

#4 Danza

#13 Medal Count

Long shot: #17 Commanding Curve

The Kentucky Derby is not necessarily won by the best horse, but the hero is often the best horse on that day. Intense Holiday seems to fit that bill as a steadily improving colt turned in the best Churchill Downs work of the Derby season in his final prerace move and gets the nod here over Wicked Strong, Danza and Medal Count — all of which have looked terrific in their training beneath the Twin Spires.

California form has been the strongest and most consistent all season, and Candy Boy has been right there in the thick of it, training as well — if not better — at Churchill Downs for his most recent work. Trained lightly by design into the Santa Anita Derby, he'll be fitter and able to relax off the pace, has the composure to handle the Derby chaos and will get an ideal trip under Hall of Famer Gary Stevens.

Betting strategy: Bet #18 Candy Boy to win; key him in first and second with four or five others, including California Chrome, Danza, General a Rod and Commanding Curve, in exactas and trifectas.

Jill Byrne, Churchill Downs

#16 Intense Holiday

#5 California Chrome

#20 Wicked Strong

#19 Ride On Curlin

Long shot: #14 Medal Count

I love the way Intense Holiday is training here. I think he's set for a big effort. California Chrome is the fastest horse in the race. I think Wicked Strong will get a good trip, and Ride On Curlin always runs his race.

Betting strategy: A trifecta box using Intense Holiday, California Chrome and Wicked Strong, and spend a little more money and add #4 Danza and Ride On Curlin.

David Grening, Daily Racing Form

#16 Intense Holiday

#18 Candy Boy

#5 California Chrome

# 14 Medal Count

Long shot: #15 Tapiture

Intense Holiday took a step backward when beaten in the Louisiana Derby but has undergone chiropractic work since that race and has trained sensationally here this week. Should get solid set-up, and a return to performance in Risen Star puts him right there.

Betting strategy: A .50-cent pick-4 starting in race 8 using with 3,5,7,8,10 with 2,4,9,10 with 1 (Wise Dan) with 5,14,15,16,18,20 in race 11. ($60)

Mike Penna, HRRN

#5 California Chrome

#4 Danza

#3 Uncle Sigh

#10 Wildcat Red

Long shot: #17 Commanding Curve

California Chrome has been the lone 3-year-old to separate himself from a well-matched group so far this year. He is fast and consistent, and if he takes to the Churchill surface he should be tough.

Betting strategy: A five-horse exacta box with 5,4,3,10,17 ($20 for a $1 box)

Jeremy Plonk, Horseplayernow.com

#5 California Chrome

#18 Candy Boy

#14 Medal Count

#12 Dance With Fate

Long shot: #8 General a Rod

California Chrome has a historic résumé with four straight wins by five lengths or more, a prep dominance not seen in a century or more — if ever — in Derby lore. There are just enough overmatched speed targets in front of him that he may get a dream trip.

Best play: Last year's Derby trifecta paid $3,500 for a buck with the favorite (Orb) winning, so using the public choice on top still can be lucrative. Superfectas get pricey, so my plan will be to take down the trifecta, keying on the Californians with some long shots second and third.

Gary West, ESPN.com

#16 Intense Holiday

#4 Danza

#20 Wicked Strong

#14 Medal Count

Long shot: Medal Count

The Derby could be simple: California Chrome, the favorite, just might be better than these horses. On the other hand, the Derby is hardly ever simple, and if the favorite isn't clearly superior and if he gets lured into a lively pace, the late runners could fill the board, with Intense Holiday and Danza, who have both shined this week, most prominent.

Betting strategy: On the assumption that circumstances could keep the favorite out of the exacta and possibly the trifecta: 16,4,20,14 with 3,6,8,12,15,17,18,19 with 16,4,20,14 ($40 for a 50-cent trifecta). And although boxing exactas is rarely a good idea, it'll work in this case because the odds should be attractive: box 4, 14, 16, 20 ($12 for a $1 box).

Jon White, Santa Anita/DRF

#12 Dance With Fate

#5 California Chrome

#20 Wicked Strong

#14 Medal Count

Long shot: #18 Candy Boy

Santa Anita Derby winner California Chrome is a deserving favorite after four straight decisive victories, but one of the many reasons I think Blue Grass victor Dance With Fate will win the roses is he beat California Chrome in the Del Mar Futurity last year. While that race and the Blue Grass were on Polytrack, I believe Dance With Fate is much better on dirt than most people realize.

Betting strategy: I think the best approach is to play the exacta, Dance With Fate over all, plus all over Dance With Fate ($18 each for a $1 bet).